Whitehouse: Tennessee studs

I am happy. The guns-in-bars bill nobody in Nashville really wanted is becoming law, thanks to our state legislature overriding
the governor’s veto.

We’ve heard so many lily-livered arguments against the bill over the last two years, even Gandhi might pick up a salad fork and think twice about his legacy.

Tennessee has been in a deficit situation, and that deficit has been in the category of awesomeness. This new law will fix that, and we can once again show the nation that “Tennessee Stud” is more than a song by Jimmy Driftwood.

It used to be when you were trying to show off how awesome you were, all you had to do was drive around town in a cherry red Corvette, slap on some Hai Karate aftershave, walk into a bar and just exude magnificence. Those were halcyon days, but then came the fall. We got metrosexuals, Sex and the City and low-calorie water. I swear, for a time there, I thought all this was a commie plot to get us to let our guard down. Good thing I saw Red Dawn.

It won’t be long until these pantywaists come up with some new way to take away our awesomeness that comes with the gun I can now carry into Hooters. What we need to do now is crank this momentum to 11.

Instead of wearing a holster that is too often camouflaged by camouflage, we need to show off our pearl handles with our love handles. From now on, when you wear a gun into a bar, wear a Speedo with it. The beltline tuck should be no problem with this gear. And it will send a powerful message: Not only are you not afraid of any potential terrorists or gangsters — but the makers of Lipitor can go stick it as well.

Another argument I’ve been hearing is over the cost of all this. I’ve heard things like, “Tourists aren’t going to come here,” and “This will kill our convention business,” and “Who is going to pay for all the people who get shot?” Well, folks, those questions are already answering themselves.

The tourists and conventions aren’t coming because we got flooded. And we all pay for those people who get shot, guilty of some crime or not.

You don’t believe that last part? Up in Louisville, Ky., there’s a guy named Dr. Bill Smock, who keeps track of all this stuff and calls it the “Gun Shot Wound Registry,” which sounds like something you can sign up for at Walmart when your cousin gets married.

They wrote about him in the Louisville Courier-Journal: “In 2008, there were $18.3 million in charges to treat 419 gunshot cases, up from $7.6 million for 336 cases in 1996, the first year of Smock’s study. In 2007, it was $16.8 million to treat 432 cases.”

And there was this: “Because most shooting victims are uninsured, much of the money to treat them is never recovered. Treatment for an average gunshot patient in 2008 cost more than $43,000, according to Smock’s research. Most of those charges were absorbed by the hospital, which recoups an average of $5,000 for uninsured gunshot patients from the Quality Care Charitable Trust, a state and local public fund for those who can’t pay for their medical care.”

I don’t know about you, but that’s a lot of Snickers bars if we’re not careful who we’re aiming at.

34 Comments on this post:

This guy is all over the place. Anyone know just what point he is trying to make?

By:dargent7 on 6/7/10 at 4:25

iD: Now that you mention it, no.

By:Captain Nemo on 6/7/10 at 5:35

What I find surprising is that id talks about someone for being “all over the place” which is the norm for id.

Ken must be an offspring of id that he does not know about.

By:Loner on 6/7/10 at 5:46

It's Monday morning, June 7. 2010 and no new LTE. This one is five days old and it's starting to look like the NCP is giving our gang a not-so-subltle hint that out "chatroom" is no longer desirable.

Vinny T. defended our little posting community, but they fired him. I may be wrong, but I think that it may be time to blow "Taps" for the Nashville City Paper; it went from state of-the-art electronic media to stale news, biased reporting and silly and/or vap[id commentaries.

I'd rather see this paper fold than continue like this; it's a real pity to see the demise of a great site, Stand by for burial services...the NCP is moribund.

By:dargent7 on 6/7/10 at 5:55

Loner: Not so fast. The print ed. on Mondays is classy. The articles/ news are good, very topical and Tenn.
Why they blow off the "Letters" is anyone's guess.
You should see the chaos over at The Tennessean.
New format, kinda cool, also hard to navigate.
The "Admin." constantly is 'spanking" several a__holes who call liberals names and hurl insults. It's like a den mother. They delete many posts for vulgarity. I don't know why they just don't ban the stooges.

By:Captain Nemo on 6/7/10 at 6:08

Then I must start reading the Tennessean again.

By:kwikrnu on 6/7/10 at 6:28

Post a sign. If that is too hard all metro cops have to do is write a letter to the department of safety and they'll suspend the permit of the handgun carrier.

By:govskeptic on 6/7/10 at 6:39

We just passed a 28 Billion dollar budget and the only thing
mention mainly has been "guns in bars" and a 16 million dollar
fish hatchery. Ms Kerr got her money back for some baby
program and those buying Mercedes won't have to pay any more
state sales taxes for their purchase versus the those buying
the cheapest KIA. The Legislature and the Media have served
the citizens well through another year! Now it time for the great
promises of what they will do for us next year.

By:dargent7 on 6/7/10 at 6:50

Nemo: The posters, "board members" over at the Tennessean, and House can confirm this, are rabid, foaming Republican outcasts. Even the Tea Party won't have them.

By:Captain Nemo on 6/7/10 at 7:05

lol d7

By:budlight on 6/7/10 at 7:18

Ken said "Tennessee has been in a deficit situation, and that deficit has been in the category of awesomeness."

Ken your glass is 1/2 empty. Look around you. Open your eyes. Tennessee and most especially, Tennesseans (even the yankee ones) are awesome. Please tell the these statistics: How many registered gun owners are in TN? How many crimes were committed by the legal gun owners? Then tell me the number of crimes committed by criminals with no right to carry? You're stating financial statistics but you've not told THE REST OF THE STORY.

Loner, did you post the same thing on another site? LOL

By:Loner on 6/7/10 at 7:43

Yeah, I posted the same note on all the city voices thread this morning, I didn't know where the flock would be perching for the day, so i left the same message on several threads.

Darge, the print edition may look "classy", but the online version is much less appealing to this long-time NCP consumer.

The LTE's represented our "tent city", so to speak, that's been swept away, it seems, leaving the professionals to do the writing, in accordance with established zoning laws and official policy. I find that landscape to be rather dull, unimaginative and unappealing.

The Tennessean may be the place to reconvene; do you have a link, Darge? I may already be registered to post there, it's been a while.

I really hate to see the NCP deteriorate needlessly. This is one of my first and favorite roosting points...I may have to flap wings and fly.

By:dargent7 on 6/7/10 at 8:46

Loner: There is a "BaldMusician" over there. You could sue for patent infringement.
I use my real name, you'll see me.
Prepare yourself, though. 88% are clinically insane Republicans. Oh, that's redundant.
They got a full blooded Indian over there, not the hack that we have over here.

By:budlight on 6/7/10 at 9:09

Ms Kerr got her money back for some baby
program and those buying Mercedes won't have to pay any more
state sales taxes for their purchase versus the those buying
the cheapest KIA.

Are you saying the "percentage " for a Kia and Mercedes is the same? If so, it should be. No one should be singled out just because they can afford a $40,000 car (or higher) vs. a $15,000 to $20,000 car.

By:AmyLiorate on 6/7/10 at 9:27

The Tennessean is lame. Their bias makes me cringe, it's horrible to think that some of their staff actually took (and passed?) journalism classes.

The BIG thing Whitehouse is missing here is
A) Does Louisville allow HCP where alcohol is serveed?
B) What number in the figures he gives where legitimate HCP holders?

By:glock22guy on 6/7/10 at 10:01

This seems easy to fix.
Why don't someone just list all the places in the area that have posted a "no guns sign"?
That away people(like myself)who carry a weapon can plan our day and will know where we will be spending our money.
This way everyone wins.
The anti-gun people will be happy,knowing they can go somewhere gun free(hopefully bad guy free also)
I for one refuse to be somewhere,and not be able to protect myself and my loved ones.
We should all thank Mr.Randy Rayburn and the Attorneys who couldn't leave well enough alone,has helped in getting this bill passed.
We all know which places Mr.Rayburn owns and can choose to either visit them or not.
I'm sure his places will be "no gun sign"posted,
Hopefully his employees and customers will be safe.
Someone please post a list of these places who have or plan to post their place of business as a "no gun place"

By:brrrrk on 6/7/10 at 10:06

dargent7 said

"The "Admin." constantly is 'spanking" several a__holes who call liberals names and hurl insults. It's like a den mother. They delete many posts for vulgarity. I don't know why they just don't ban the stooges."

Who would be left?

By:AmyLiorate on 6/7/10 at 10:45

Of course the real solution is MORE regulation.

If they just pass a law saying that every gun owner must carry insurance for themselves and potential victims then we'd save $18M!

By:tv8527 on 6/7/10 at 10:53

He just answered his 2 main points & it's very simple.CRIMINALS are most likely uninsured because they have chosen to live outside the law,therefore they deserve to be shot when they commit crimes.# 2 take more defensive shooting classes It will improve your reaction with your handgun & we won't be paying hospital bills, The perp's family or the state will be paying to bury the thug & none of us will have to deal with him ever again.Think of all the money that will be saved ;-)

By:AmyLiorate on 6/7/10 at 11:15

I hear that they are releasing a new version of Red Dawn.
Rest in Peace Patrick Swayze

By:conservarage on 6/7/10 at 12:36

this is the same tired arguement that anti-gunnys made back when the carry permit law passed. the logic was faulty then, and now. give it a rest.

btw: criminals don't obey gun laws. that is why they are criminals. those unable to grasp this basic bit of logic are the same that seem confused why an illegal immigrant is breaking the law.

By:dargent7 on 6/7/10 at 12:48

This "Guns" thing is getting absurd. Of course, if any establishment posts a sign "No Guns" and a gansta rapper high on PCP busts in, the owner could be sued.
Even if there are no signs, he could be sued if a gun fight broke out.
It's really amazing to me with all the churches, all the Bibles, all the religious conservatives living in Tenn. you're all a bunch of yellow belly cowards. All are afraid "for themselves and their families". Can't go to Shoney's or I-Hop without carrying a Baretta or S&W cause danger lurkes right arount every corner.
Felons, criminals, rapists, child molestors are everwhere according to the CPH nuts.
Unless you're in East Nashville at 2:00am flashing C-notes, Nashville is a very safe city. Try Chicago, Detroit, Philly, Houston, LA to see where real fear exists.

By:tv8527 on 6/7/10 at 1:05

Dargent ,you seem to be behind the times.North & south Nashville are the new hotbed's we have gotten east Nashville under much better control now that responsible citizens are taking over the reigns. We have a new council person that really cares about the area & better neighborhood watch programs.Yes there are a few pocket's left ( gang members are behind the majority of it ) but the situation is much better than 14 years ago;-)

By:idgaf on 6/7/10 at 1:06

I don't carry but I will make it a point to tell any resturant that I see that bans permit holders that they lost my business because of their sign/ban.

IMO it would be extremely risky for a owner to ban them and set themselves up for liability if a permit holder is in their place of business not carrying because of the sign and someone gets injured that could have been prevented by a permit holder.

Remember that girl in Ca that left her gun in the car and her parents got blown away in micky D's?

By:brrrrk on 6/7/10 at 1:08

tv8527 said

"Dargent ,you seem to be behind the times.North & south Nashville are the new hotbed's we have gotten east Nashville under much better control now that responsible citizens are taking over the reigns."

responsible citizens, Gracie?

By:AmyLiorate on 6/7/10 at 2:04

D'argent - try this on for a reason
http://nashvillecitypaper.com/content/city-news/man-mistakenly-released-jail-one-tbis-most-wanted

Next try being a business woman who works alone much of the time. Not knowing when some weirdo or crook is going to linger around. Ever been in that situation?

Amy your coming through loud & clear it's just that the detractors here " lib's " Don't want to see an intelligent argument from us H.c.p. holders.

By:dargent7 on 6/7/10 at 5:28

tv: Intelligence and HCP holder are mutually exclusive. Anyone dumb enough to "need" to carry at Hooters, O'Charley's, Shoney's, TGIFriday's, should stay at home and hide under the sofa. And stay there until Armaggedon.

By:tv8527 on 6/7/10 at 9:54

Dargent I don't need to I want to & it's my right.& it just may be me or another h.c.p. holder that one day saves your friends or loved ones from some whacked out robber /armed assailant .

By:sw9ve on 6/8/10 at 8:06

All dargent knows how to do is insult because, Lord knows, he surely is not intelligent enough nor does he have self-control enough to debate the issue. That alone tells you that he simply knows not of that which he speaks.

By:budlight on 6/8/10 at 9:26

I'm off to the firing range! Got to make sure my aim is good, but I'm not sure if this shaking in my left arm will cooperate. (just kidding about the range)

By:TA on 6/8/10 at 11:16

Dargent7 said:

you're all a bunch of yellow belly cowards. All are afraid "for themselves and their families". Can't go to Shoney's or I-Hop without carrying a Baretta or S&W cause danger lurkes right arount every corner.

I'm kinda partial to my Glock.

In case you haven't noticed, there's no lack of crime going on in Nashville. Observe:
http://www.police.nashville.org/docs/stats/2008_Annual_UCR_by_Council_District.pdf

You range from 314 violent crimes per 100,000 population (good) to 3,015 violent crimes per 100,000 population (very not good). A 3% chance of any violent crime on any given day are odds I don't care to play. Casinos thrive on 2% juice (and most customers don't think they are "losing" much).

There are approximately 281,000 permits in force with roughly 4.5 million people eligible (minus felons.. we'll go with the age 21+ population on the whole). 6.25% of eligible persons have a permit. And who has them? Mostly older folks. Observe who is signing up. http://www.tn.gov/safety/stats/DL_Handgun/Handgun/HandgunReport2009Full.pdf

Out here in the more rural areas, it's more than just humans you have to be worried about. Not 12 hours ago, I watched a pack of coyotes roaming through city streets 2 minutes from my house. Fancy a late night walk or taking out the trash and being eyeballed for dinner.

All things considered: Living in fear? No. Being prudent? Absolutely.

By:GUARDIAN on 6/8/10 at 1:33

OK OK OK Dargent7 just confess you are Ken Whitehouse. All that ranting, whining and name calling in this article could only come from a deranged nazi gun hater like yourself. Sigmund Freud associates retarded sexual and emotional development not with gun ownership, but with fear and loathing of weapons so now we know! Please get help and take the meds they give you. You'll get out in the real world one day and forget you're not online. You'll run your mouth about how people that own and carry guns are cowards causing someone to adjust your attitude for you. Perhaps one day you will get out from behind your PC and off the potty chair you sit on and find that many other states have carry laws that allow gun in bars. F.Y.I. They have no problems. In closing there is a website and FaceBook page being worked on to list all the bars/rest. in the state where you can and can't carry.